spot program uk 2012

A ChAritAble Opening nightnabiha & Mike Sheridan

+++inFO / bAnd preSentAtiOn / SpOt VenUeS / SeMinArS

reptile YOUthSpOt Festival opened the doors for us

the rAVeOnetteS

celebrate the kick start from SpOt at SpOt

AArhUS gUidethings to do when you’re

not listening to music

ALPHABEAT 21.04.12DONKEYBOY 28.04.12REPTILE YOUTH 25.05.12SANNE SALOMONSEN 08.06.12TIM CHRISTENSEN AND THE DAMN CRYSTALS 22.06.12KIM LARSEN & KJUKKEN 06.08.12ULIGE NUMRE 14.09.12

SE HELE SPILLEPLANEN PÅROCKCRUISE.DK

ROCKCRUISETIM CHRISTENSEN AND THE DAMN CRYSTALSSUPPORTMATHILDE SAVERY

03349 RC12 200x260_TimC_SPOT.indd 1 11/04/12 10.18

contents04 Partners and sponsors05 Info 06 sPot Venues

artIcles:08 reptile Youth SPOT Festival opened the doors for us

10 the raveonettes Celebrate the kick start from SPOT at SPOT

12 aarhus guide Things to do when you’re not listening to music

PresentatIon:14 a charitable opening night Opening Night with Nabiha & Mike Sheridan

16 sPot Festival All the Danish, Nordic, and international acts

31 seminars Danish and internationals views on the problems and possibilities in the musicbusiness

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Publisher:GAFFA A/SVester Allé 158000 Århus C

editor-in-chief:Peter Ramsdal

cover PhotoMichael Boe Laigaard

Words:Jesper Rise Børjesen ( unless otherwise stated)

translation:Søren Bastholm

Pictures:Morten Rygaard, Rasmus Weng Karlsen, Per Lange, Martin Dam Kristensen, Torsten Kjær Ravn, Henrik Friis m.fl.

sPot-info: Kasper Rønberg Schultz, Signe Langeberg Pedersen, Henrik Friis, Astrid Horndrup Nielsen, Jon Hededal, Hans Christian Bugge, Mikkel Drejer Berthelsen

festival artWork:Mads Find

design & layout ProgramMartin Ellgaard FrederiksenNikolaj LassenKatrine Skriver Christensen

The program is subject to alterations

Welcome to sPot 2012This is our 18th SPOT Festival

As a showcase festival with an international aim we were among the first in Europe to make use of this event format to attract inter-national music business people to Denmark and the Danish/Nor-dic music scenes.

Each year we are happy to see new guests and partners just like we are proud of the many people who keep coming back.

Music is a strange thing. It is spiritual and artistic communicati-on. It serves as a social and cultural rallying point. It is a commercial product, a commodity or simply a piece of the great, big and gaudy backcloth of the entertainment industry!

For SPOT what matters is that we secure Danish and Nordic music all the attention it can hold.

SPOT does not create the music, but we aim to create a set-up that can stimulate the interests of the artists and support the over-all promotion.

All year we work together with Danish and international music business people to give the music the best possible exposure.

This year we have expanded our focus on Germany with new partnerships and initiatives. It is logical that we build on the close collaboration in the music field that has existed for years between Denmark and Germany.

However, we hope that guests from all parts of the world will feel welcome – so much so that they bring some of the music home with them.

Gunnar K. MadsenHead of SPOT Festivalen

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access to the FestIValExchange of tickets to access wristbands takes place in Godsbanen / The Freight Yard. Opening hours: Thursday 16:00-22:00, Friday: 13.00-23:00, Saturday: 13:00-23:00

tImetableThe timetable for the SPOT Festival 2012 will be available at the festival entrance. It can also be downloaded at www.spotfestival.dk. The timeta-ble may be subject to change.

lImIted caPacItYWe would like to point out that the festival stages have limited capacities. We therefore advise you to show up early before the start of the concert.

dIFFerent Venues – dIFFerent rulesPlease note that the festival is a guest at the vari-ous venues and that there may be specific rules at the individual venues.

concerts In collaboratIon WIth... The SPOT Festival presents concerts in col-laboration with the following genre organisations: The Danish Folk Council, the Secretariat for Con-temporary Music /SNYK, WMD – World Music Denmark and JazzDenmark. Furthermore, SPOT is also collaborating with PDH, Crunchy Frog, Strøm Festival, Royal, etc.

Read more about the individual acts in the section on this year’s bands and solo artists. nIghtsPot: nIght PartY at traIn WIth Four lIVe acts When the SPOT Festival is drawing to a close on Friday night, the nighthawks and the dance-floor devils can move on to the venue Train where there will be more live music and festival atmos-

phere. The common denominator of Train’s ac-tivities is simply party of any kind. At NightSPOT SPOT and Train present a versatile line-up with live acts and DJs from Denmark and Abroad (see the band presentations)

InternatIonal musIc busIness meetIng This year big networking event hosted by the SPOT Festival and MXD will be held in Trafikhal-len Aarhus City Hall, where more than 300 Danish and international industry and media people will meet on Friday the 4th of May 12:00 The event will also serve as the City Council’s official recep-tion of the international guests. (Access only with invitation) .

:danIsh+ are WarmIng uP On Thursday May 3rd the theatre Gruppe 38 in Mejlgade 55 will stage the show “Poul Sine Høns”, where pretty children’s songs with grue-some endings are at the centre. The perfor-mance will be a breakaway start of the biennale ;DANISH+ In Aarhus, which from the 6th of May and the following three days puts international focus on Danish children’s theatre and is yet another example of the SPOT On Culture Week collaboration

(Read more at www.spotfestival.dk).

P6 beat team The P6 BEAT radio hosts Camilla Jane Lea, Carsten Holm and Henrik Aagaard who will pro-vide the music for the party late Friday evening at the Katapult stage. P6 BEAT, which is DR’s digital radio channel for music outside the mainstream, turned one year in April, and it will be celebrated with rhythms for the dance floor and a P6 BEAT DJ team, who will play all the songs you love and all the things you didn’t know you were dying to hear.

strØm Strøm is Denmark’s leading festival in electronic music. The international late summer festival presents a Danish/international program at SPOT, which is presented Saturday on the roof of Godsbanen – on the stage called Gården. See en.spotfestival.dk for further information.

bluesPot – cItY battle and InternatIonal exchangeThis year BlueSPOT will be included in the SPOT program and take up quite a bit of space in the program Friday at Godsbanen. 29 acts from Copenhagen, Aarhus, Odense and Esbjerg take the stage in a city battle – and BlueSPOT will also present an Excite-program with Danish and international acts. Five stages (Vogn 1 +2 samt Perron 1+2+3) are used for the purpose. See en.spotfestival.dk for further information.


the musIc anImatIon VIdeo lIVes! The music animation video lives. A collaboration between The Animation Workshop and SPOT will show this, when the four SPOT acts My Bubba & Mi, Ulige Numre, Waldo & Marsha and Of the Wand and the Moon each have been in “the clutches” of a director from The Animation Workshop. The directors are: Tor Fruergaard (My Bubba & Mi). Henrik Malmgren (Waldo & Marsha), Fruszina Gaal (Ulige Numre), and Bo Mathorne (Of The Wand & The Moon). The result can be seen Saturday afternoon at Remisen. The project is part of the new The SPOT CULTURE WEEK collaboration.


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godsbanen1 Entrance/Check-in2 Radar3 Blackbox4 Katapult5 Remisen6 Kedlen7 Vogn 18 Vogn 29 Perron 310 Perron 211 Perron 112 Gården13 Den rå hal20 Open air area

musikhuset14 Lille Sal15 Store Sal16 Rytmisk Sal

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15.-17. JUNI 2O12ÅDALEN//AARHUS

BY APPOINTMENT TOTHE ROYAL DANISH COURT

NorthSide udvikleS i dialog med Sit publikum. læS mere på www.NorthSide.dk, og bliv veNNer med oS på Facebook

få de bedste Nyheder først!

BY APPOINTMENT TOTHE ROYAL DANISH COURT

JUstICe sNOW PAtrOLthe stONe rOses

eAGLes Of deAth MetAL // eMeLI sANdé the GAsLIGht ANtheM // KAshMIr // the KOOKs LUKAs GrAhAM // MALK de KOIJN MArINA & the dIAMONds // Oh LANd

GArbAGe // the hIVes // JAMes bLAKeKAsAbIAN // MUMfOrd & sONs

NOeL GALLAGher’s hIGh fLyING bIrds // the xx

the AsterOIds GALAXy tOUr // bAt fOr LAshes bOMbAy bICyCLe CLUb // ChOIr Of yOUNG beLIeVers // dúNé

freJA LOeb // LIttLe drAGON // MILes KANe // NOAh & the WhALe tUrbOWeeKeNd // WheN sAINts GO MAChINe

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SPOT Festival opened the doors for us

TexT: JeSPer riSe BørJeSen

The lads of Reptile Youth were on a sensational roll in 2011 – “it was mainly due to SPOT”, says their manager. – The SPOT Festival opened the doors for us to booking agents all over Europe.

Those are the words of Kasper Bjørke, who handles the manager part of Reptile Youth together with Andreas Lemche. And Kasper Bjørke is a man who knows what he is talking about. Some might remember him from the disco/house duo Filur, but he was also the one who discovered and signed Oh Land, and then he is Trentemøller´s manager.

He knows perfectly well just how important it was for Reptile Youth to play at SPOT in 2011, even though they were called Reptile & Retard back then.

“SPOT is an amazing window to the world just like Iceland Airwaves, Eurosonic, By:Larm and SXSW where Reptile Youth have also played. The SPOT Festival is the most impor-tant Festival in Denmark when it comes to kick-ing in doors of agents bookers and the media”,

he says and adds that it was also significant that the band played at the Trailer Park Festival in Copenhagen a couple of months after SPOT, where the band had invited a bunch of record companies to come and see them.

Reptile Youth was formed in 2009 when the Aarhus lads Mads Damsgaard and Esben Valløe were on an exchange stay in China. At their first concert, which they played in China, they were spotted by Oasis’s former promoter Michael Ohlsson, who took the two lads under his wings and sent them to venues and festi-vals all over China.

roaring successDespite the fact that they have yet to release their debut album, they are famous now both in Denmark and internationally for their raw, ener-getic concerts, where lead singer Damsgaard often hurls himself half-naked into the crowd.

“It’s genuine ferocity and emotions, which are at stake. And the audience can feel that. It´s that simple. The boys have something completely unique that I haven´t seen before”, says Kasper Bjørke and points to a particular

gig in Japan, which CNN reporter Robert Michael Poole, who is a specialist in Japanese music, saw. Afterwards he wrote:

“Reptile & Retard (now Reptile Youth, -ed.) brought the club to its boiling point. I have worked here for six years now and I know how restrained, reserved - even - the Japanese audience can be. That’s why it was cool to see the effect Reptile & Retard’s show had on them.

rePTile YOuTh

“it’s genuine ferocity and emotions, which are at stake.”

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After SPOT 2011 Reptile Youth became part of the SPOT On Denmark showcases in Montreux and Vienna, and that was just more fuel on the fire.

“They now have some of the best agents in Switzerland, Austria, Germany and the Nether-lands due to these concerts. If we wanted to, we could send them to these countries to play gigs every single month. There is a huge demand for them everywhere”, says their manager.

– We are young on a bleeding planet

It all started in China in 2009 – what made you form your duo while you were over there?

Esben: It just happened. One moment that became the decision to move on together.

Mads: And it makes sense that it was here. Sometimes you have to get lost to find yourself. We got lost in all ways in China.

Esben: And came home a bit closer to our inner core.

What was it like to play in China – the Chinese aren’t exactly known for freedom of speech and border-crossing culture?

Mads: Fascinatingly different. We played everything from big festivals on stages with capacities of 10-15,000 to small, run-down punk clubs.

Esben: And with crowds ranging from young party-goers like in London to audiences robbed of emotion, as if they had withered from too much propaganda.

If there’s one thing that people associate with you, it’s your energetic concerts – what is it that you want to give to the audience.

Mads: People often think I’m grumpy when I hurl myself into the crowds and throw things around. And it is some kind of madness. Yet, at the same time everything I do on stage is also some kind of pent-up love that has yet to take an actual shape. A very physical wish for something better. We really want to give the crowd something real and genuine.

Esben: To hurl yourself half-naked into a bunch of strangers counting on them to catch you - that is a very real and beautiful sign of trust. It’s vulnerability transformed into

a wordless contract between the audience and us. We’re all creators of the mutual experience.

In 2011 you changed your name from Reptile & Retard to Reptile Youth. What is the difference between who you are now and who you were in 2009?

Esben: Everything and nothing. We’re still white middleclass kids raised by flower-power parents from a totally different age. We’re still young in an age without idealism, still young on a bleeding planet.

Mads: And we’re still young in an age when people smile at statements like these. There is exactly a name of difference between being exactly who we were and completely different from back then.

How does the name change reflect that? Mads: That is for everybody else to answer.

The name is a spontaneous reaction from us. Nothing more. It stems from a feeling and a longing. How it comes across we don’t know.

Esben: People may squeeze as much or as little meaning out of the name and of us as they please. We aren’t a promotion campaign that exists to make people feel fake and staged emotions

AgreemenTS direcTlY due TO The SPOT FeSTivAl 2011 And SPOT On denmArk in mOnTreux And viennA

• AbookingagreementwithAustrianInkMusic• GigsattheWavesViennaFestival

– which then led to gigs at eurosonic• TwoadditionalgigsinAustria• TwogigsinSwitzerland• AdealwithSwissTAKK-booking• AgigattheSonicVisionFestivalinLuxembourg• AdealwiththeGermanAgentKarstenJanke

Konzertdirektion• AdealwithBelgianbookingagentPeterVerstraelen• AconcertinTokyoattheNordicNOMEXcampaign

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The raveonettes celebrate the kick start from SPOT at SPOT

10 Years after:

TexT: henrik FriiS

The 2002 SPOT Festival was the crucial and defining career start for The Raveonettes and the band’s international journey. On the 5th of May the band will celebrate the ten-year anniversary at SPOT with the original line-up by playing the entire debut release.

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Around this time of spring ten years ago the 2002 edition of the SPOT Festival was taking shape. Almost all the music had been booked, and it had been announced that Rolling Stone senior editor David Fricke would come to SPOT to speak at the seminar “How does Scandinavia sound?”. When Sune Rose Wag-ner saw that name on the list of attendees for SPOT, he just knew that he had to get his band into the festival line-up. After the years with Psyched Up Janis and the live jobs with Sort Sol, he had just formed a new band with singer and bass guitarist Sharin Foo.

Fricke is bound to love us. dead certain!“When I saw that Fricke would be at SPOT I told Sharin, “We have to bloody go too, because we make music that he will definitely like. Everything that he stands for – well that’s exactly what we do”, Wagner recalls over the phone from his home in New York.

“I thought that if we are ever going to get out abroad, then Fricke is the one who can help us. Over the years I had seen who he was. Practically every time you watch a music

documentary, no matter what band it’s about, Fricke is in the film. No wonder because no one can match his knowledge of music, no one at all! And I knew where he came from. The whole New Yorker scene, and I knew who his favourite bands were. So if he just saw us, he was bound to like it. It was dead certain.”

Noroomforthebandintheline-upIn a practically complete line-up there was no room for the band, however. But Wagner was not going to accept that as a fact of life and leave it at that. He recalls that the band changed bookers in order to improve their chances of being included at SPOT. What’s more, he personally got in touch with daily leader of SPOT Gunnar Madsen in order to make him change his mind and include them.

“Sune contacted me several times to get into the line-up. Yebo (from Crunchy Frog, the band’s Danish record company at the time, ed.) did the same. They did everything to talk me into giving them a dispensation with all kinds of explanations about invaluable future pros-pects”, Gunnar Madsen recalls with a smile.

“Well, I knew Sune from the days of Psyched Up Janis – they played SPOT in 1997 – and I had great faith in Yebo and his label. And if there is one thing that I really appreciate, it’s when musicians are persistent when it comes to their ambition to get their material out. So I let myself be talked into adding the band Girl On Death Row to the line up”, says the SPOT boss.

From girl on death row to The Shades and then …That was in fact the name of the band in the beginning. Just how early in the band’s career

all this was is reflected by the fact that they were allowed to change the name from Girl On Death Row to The Shades – and then when the programme and the poster had been printed, they changed the name once again! This time to The Raveonettes. A change SPOT could only put on the festival website.

Sune has no special memories from the SPOT gig: “It wasn’t one of the gigs after which you go “wow! That was just perfect”. It wasn’t even close. And as far as I recall, it wasn’t par-ticularly well played. The reason was that at the time we hadn’t played more than 4 or 5 shows or so. But there was plenty of steam and that’s what counted - the energy on the stage”.

disappointment – thought Fricke hadn’t been thereDid you look up David Fricke after the show?

“No. I actually thought he hadn’t been at the concert at all because I didn’t see him anywhere and I didn’t meet him. So I was bit disappointed and thought, “fuck, well there was probably another band he wanted to see when we were playing”. So I headed back to Copenhagen the next day, and tried not to think more about it. But then Sharin called me. She had stayed in Aarhus and had been at Fricke’s seminar. She just said, “Holy fuck! Fricke talked about us – he mentioned us – twice! And no one had a clue who he was talking about because no one knew who we were at the time. But he said that we were “the best band he had seen for quite some time”, “they rocked my world” and all kinds of sweet compliments. That’s when I knew we had made it, and that was all that mattered”.

Quick new York concertThe next steps followed quickly. The band booked a gig at legendary CBGBs in New York on their own – and immediately got export backing from the SPOT organizer ROSA. Wag-ner got in touch with Fricke and asked if he would like to be there at the concert.

“We just felt like going to New York with our music. 30 or 40 people showed up, but we played a really good concert. And then David Fricke wrote a lengthy and very enthusiastic review for Rolling Stone Magazine’s website. And then our phones started ringing. It was after that concert and that review that Colum-bia entered the picture. It was after that con-cert that everybody entered the picture… “.

gunnar madsen says “There were three crucial ingredients that formed a synthesis

1) Unscrupulous enterprise2) Luck and chance3) A continuously well-developed network Without those things you don’t get far. It

was via our long-standing collaboration with Jan Sneum from Danish Radio channel P3 we got in touch with David Fricke. The two of them have been friends for years. But when those ingredients are there, SPOT has the potential and the organised platform to boost that luck. And as the subsequent New York

story clearly shows, it’s vital to move fast when the opportunity has materialised”.

The rest is rock history. The band got a prestigious contract with Columbia. However, their biggest commercial success came with the album “Lust Lust Lust” after moving to the more alternative label Vice in 2008. Asked to comment on the present time, Sune Rose Wagner calls it “extremely important”.

Expectations“I can feel that people expect a lot from us – both when it comes to the next album (an EP in April and the album this autumn –ed.) and when it comes to the gigs at SPOT and in Copenhagen. We have an obligation to rock! There is a reason that ten years later we are still a successful band and have a great life and do all the things we always dreamed of. Not all bands get to exist for ten years and certainly not on their own terms. Now with this 10 year anniversary there’ll be a lot of focus in the press both in Denmark and internatio nally. And when you do that kind of 10-year stuff, people are going to make comparisons – “How is the new record compared to the old albums?” and blah blah blah. So there is actu-ally quite a lot of pressure on us to show that we are a great band and still deserve to be here after 10 years”.

The SPOT concertAt SPOT the original line-up from 10 years ago with Manoj Ramdas (guitar) and Jakob Høyer (drums) will be reunited.

“And then we are going to play “Whip It On” (the band’s debut EP, -ed.) from begin-ning to end. We go in and celebrate the anniversary of having been ‘discovered’. “Whip It On” was the record we brought with us to SPOT and played there. In fact it was the only material we had recorded as a band back then. We celebrate the EP that kick-started it all”.

“A lot of the songs we still play. There are, however, also songs that we haven’t played for years. It’ll be fun. The reason we made that record so simple was that playing it live had to be fun and that it had to be easy to play it live. That way we could focus on the energy. It’s still that way because when we play “Attack of the Ghost Riders”, I still think it’s one of the coolest songs to play. I can only imagine how much fun it will be to play those songs again”.

The only thing we can do is keep writing the best songs possible“Ambitions for the future? Well, to do what we do best. The music must be what drives any band. There is so much business and so many other things that you must deal with, unfortunately. But if it was up to me, we would be making music every single day. That’s the only thing that counts. The thing about reach-ing an even broader audience, well that ‘just’ requires the right song at the right moment and that somebody hears and hypes it on the Internet. The only thing we can do is to keep writing the best songs possible”

“We have an obligation to rock!”

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AArhuS guide

Things to do when you’re not listening to music

Normally Morten Thorhauge manages the drums in Carpark North, but on the occasion of the SPOT Festival, he has momentarily taken upon himself to be your guide, dear reader, and point you to the best places and experiences in Aarhus, the city where he was born and bred, and where he now lives again after six years in Copenhagen.TexT: JeSPer riSe BørJeSen

The øgAde QuArTer i live there, and it really is a lovely neighborhood. it may not really be the kind of place you just hang out, but i just love living here. There are cobblestone streets and many free spaces. it’s an old hippie hood, and i like that. it suits my temper really well. People are quite liberal, and i kind of like that. You feel at home here.

CAFéSMAGLøS’SNAMNAM-BurGErCaféSmagløsatKlostertorvhasaNamNam-burgerontheirmenu,andit’sreally good. i have tried many different burgers in my life, but their burger simply is one of the best. café burgers often tend to be over the top, and you get the feeling that it’s hardly a burger anymore. it has to have some kind of inner coherence, and the nam nam burger has got that.

FATTer eSkil Fatter eskil is a real musicians’ hang out. every time we’ve played a gig, we end up down there. i don’t really know why. There’s just something about hanging in that courtyard of theirs and in the bar. At the end of the day it’s just place with great atmosphere where a lot of musicians drop by, and it’s nice that you get to talk a bit with your colleagues.

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Things to do when you’re not listening to music

The cinemA meTrOPOl All the cinemas in Aarhus are good, but if i have to select one, i’ll pick metropol in the Trøjborg area. it’s sort of thinkingmainstream/indie.Ifyou’reintomoreclear-cutindie, there is obviously the famous øst For Paradis, andofcoursewealsohaveBioCityandCinemaxX,bothofwhichalwayshavethenewblockbustersandthe3-Dflicks. it’s a really cool thing about Aarhus that despite itssizeithassomanycinemas,becauseIlovegoingtothe movies.

meJlgAde And veSTergAde in many ways mejlgade and vestergade represent the budding under-ground in Aarhus. For instance there is an entrepreneurial area in vestergade, where people rent small offices. There is a little café and it isreallyrelaxedwithapleasantatmospherewithnosharpelbows.It’sreally chilled but still very active, so look for lynFabrikken if you happen to be in vestergade. And mejlgade is just legendary! it’s a quaint street withlotsofsmallshopsandcafésandcrazinessandentertainment.Youalso find Backstage and the city Folk high School in mejlgade. There’s so much music, art and photography down there.

ArOS Afantasticmuseum!They’vegotsomeamazingexhibitions.Theyare really cutting edge. The other day i saw an Olafur eliasson exhibition,wherehe’screatedaroomwithfogandvisibilityofhalfa meter. in the ceiling he has put colored lamps so you’re walking in different color patches. it was far out, and a monumental visual experience.Andthearchitectureisfantastictoo.Thenewrainbowthing on the roof also blows me away. it’s just so wonderfully ambitious that Aarhus has something so pretentious.

The BOTAnicAl gArden The Botanical garden is quite an oasis in the city center. What’s more there’s the Old Town at the foot of the garden so there’s a splendid view of the Old Town from up there. Walking in a lovely park and then looking down into the 19th centuryisquiteanexperience!Andthen it’s so peaceful. Buy a china boxwithsomenoodlesandfindagood spot in the sun in the garden – that is the life!

The FOrreST AT mOeSgAArd STrAnd if you have a car, you have to go to moesgaard Strand. it’s an enthralling place. The cool thing about Aarhus is that there is both beach and forest, andtheforestextendsendsatthebeach!Theforestissituatedquitehigh due to the hilly landscape, which means that from the forest you can see far across the sea. it’s really magnificent, and once in a while a walk in the forest is good for your soul.

Arne JAcOBSen’S ciTY hAll TOWer now that we’re talking about the town symbols, Arne Jacobsen and erik møller’s city hall Tower is actually really cool. it’s so rectangular and masculine – i like that! maybe it’s not pretty, but architecture doesn’t always have to be pretty, does it?

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At this year’s SPOT opening the music will be provided by Danish/North-West African singer Nabiha and electronic wizzkid Mike Sheridan, the official opening speech will be held by the Minister for Culture Uffe Elbæk and the proceeds of the ticket sale will benefit Danish Red Cross.

The opening night of SPOT Festival on May 3rd is arranged by The Concert Hall, Aarhus, Jyllands-Posten, Danish Red Cross and SPOT.

The Danish Minster for Culture Uffe Elbæk will open the SPOT Festival 2012 officially with a speech and then Nabiha and Mike Sheridan will open the festival musically. Mike Sheridan entered the electronic music scene at a young age and released his debut EP when he was only 13 years old. This April

Sheridan’s newest album “Ved Første Øjekast” will be released, and the first single called “Håblyst” features power-pop musician Freja Loeb, who is also in the line-up for for this year’s festival.

Nabiha has roots in both Denmark and North West Africa and her bubbling pop music has already gotten international attention. Her debut album “Cracks” from 2010 gave her several nominations for different music awards, and sent her on tour with James Morrison.

The opening takes place May 3rd 19.30 in The Concert Hall/ Musikhuset Aarhus

Price: 100 DKK + fee. (There is a limited amount of tickets, and they are sold on a first come, first served basis)

mAli vOiceS – AFricAn BAckingin addition to the two main acts of the evening there will also be an African act. mariam koné and david Joël from the music Academy in the capitol of mali, Bamako will sing a few songs with the headoftheMusicAcademyinMozambique,Joaocabral Armando (guitar) and Stephan nyangon (bas) plus chico Fatada (cajon/percussion, who both are students at The royal Academy of music in Aarhus.

nabiha and mike Sheridan opens The SPOT Festival

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Avant-avant-garde.The new Concept Style Coupé.

A style rebel that plays only by its own rules: the Concept Style Coupé impresses with its obstinate contours, spellbinding light concept and sportily dynamic character – even here at the SPOT Festival. The new Concept Style Coupé. The pulse of a new generation. www.mercedes-benz.com/concept-style-coupe

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band presentation

PHOTO: MOrTen rygaard

Once again there is more than 100 acts – bands and soloists and events and projects and more – in the filled-up program that can be experienced on May 4th-5th. Presented both by SPOT and by the festivals collaborators.

You can read about all the Danish, Nordic and international acts here – but also on en.spotfestival.dk, were you can read more about the festival.

The timetable for the music is handed out at the entrance to SPOT Festival – and it can be downloaded from en.spotfestival.dk.

SPOT FeSTival iS ready FOr iTS 18TH ediTiOn

117acts ready for spot

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SPOT FeSTival iS ready FOr iTS 18TH ediTiOn

bands a-b

Jonas alaska (no)Genre: SingersongwriterLatest album: Jonas Alaska (2011)Career began: 2008

This 23-year-old songwriter from Åmli, Norway plays and sings his way straight into one’s heart with his bittersweet lyrics wrapped in merry drums and light banjo and guitar riffs. However tempting comparisons with Dylan and Lennon might seem, they are completely unnecessary. We’re dealing with a musician with his own staunch identity – full of heart, enthusiasm and a melancholy country drive.

age of GiantsGenre: Indiepop | Latest album: Mellow Fruitfull-ness, online-EP (2011) | Formed: 2009

When the five members of Age of Giant play, their music soon moves from floating, dreamy pop to a more unrestrained rock sound and back again. The quintet’s experimental universe is full of drowsy vocals and a somewhat slacker-like attitude, which is evident in the very melodious compositions. It is organic indie pop that has long since created a buzz in the bloggers’ world.

akatGenre: Alternative pop | Latest album: Akat, EP (2011) | Career began: 2010

Akat sings of human passion and fragility in frost-clad landscapes of sound that wind in and out of rustling and rattling beats in a mesmerizingly so-norous panorama. Nature and technology melt into each other in the music and establish a beautiful scenery for the personal stories about the beauty of life. Akat is Anna Katrin Ø. Egilstrøs, who is also known as the singer of Valravn.Presented in collaboration with The Royal Academy of Music

alphabeatGenre: PopLatest album: The Spell (2009)Formed: 2002

It’s been two years since Alphabeat’s last release, and after massive hits in DK and abroad, they are back now with the single "Vacation", which oozes of summer. In the song it is plain to hear that they still love to capture the atmosphere from the gaudy pop culture of the eighties and mix it with a modern hit sound. The new album (due this sum-mer) is packed with Alpabeathian happiness.

altmodischGenre: IndietronicaLatest album: Altmodisch (2010)Formed: 2009

Out of love for the German Indietronica scene, the members of Almodisch joined forces to tailor their own original contribution to the genre – with a classical stamp of sparkling electronics, chilly synths and gentle vocals. They pamper the listener with a myriad of cute, little details and a truly delicious ability to create a condensed ice-blue atmosphere

annasaidGenre: Math-popLatest album: Jua (2010)Formed: 2005

Despite the distance separating music fans in the UK, Germany, the Benelux and Denmark they have one thing in common. They have all come across Annasaid in the band’s tireless and uncompromis-ing efforts to share their positive and forward-looking math pop with as many soul mates as possible. We are talking about four lads with an average age of 23 years who have gone all-in to chase the dream.

asbjørnGenre: PopLatest album: The criminal, single (2012) Career began: 2010

In organic and wild undergrowth of electronic details and lively beats, Asbjørn dances his stylish steps and sings his razor-sharp pop tunes with intensity. He balances the simple and straight-forward means of pop with a complex wealth of details in the orchestration. The hand-played recordings have been manipulated electronically into a combined sound that is part human, part machine. Presented in collaboration with PDH.

thee attacksGenre: Super Rock | Latest album: That’s Mr. Attack To You (2010) | Formed: 2007

Always displaying great awareness of tradition Thee Attacks play alive-and-kicking rock with a stylish retro sound and untamed, raw energy. Their music is a delicious goodie for everybody with a taste for old-school rock in modern and meaning-ful songs with the right attitude, awesome riffs and catchy tunes. Rolling Stone Magazine senior editor David Fricke is among the band’s many devoted fans.Presented in collaboration with Bobkat Agency and Crunchy Frog

babylove & the Van dangosGenre: SkaLatest album: Let it come, let it go (2012)Formed: 2004

Babylove & the van Dangos is a band with plenty of experience of life and with performances that are attentive and extrovert and generally get people on their feet. Their music is a mix of energetic ska and rocksteady – inspired by life around them. With a new album in the bag and a long tour under their belts they are turned on and looking forward to entertaining the SPOT audience. Presented in collaboration with World Music Denmark

PHOTO: jOnaS bang

bands b-c

battlekatGenre: Electropop | Latest album: 05272011-24102011, EP (2011) | Formed: 2011

Battlekat is a new electronic project from the "wrong part of town", which has impressed music media worldwide. The band draws on Nordic electro traditions but with the edge of New Yorker rebelliousness of the 1970s. Battlekat has a broad palette and the way they move from tortuous electronic ballads to metallic punk synthesizers slowly but surely disarms the listener.Presented in collaboration with PDH.

Mads björnGenre: PopLatest album: Monolith (2012)Career began: 2008

Mads Björn has recorded the album "Monolith" on his own, and the first single "New Sailor" went straight to number 1 on the alternative Danish radio chart. There is something beautiful and atmospheric about the music, which was recorded in his holiday cottage with primitive equipment and therefore has a distinct low-fi sound. The harmonious pop songs are played with a twist of rock, world and folk. Presented in collaboration with PDH.

boho dancerGenre: Alternativ folkLatest album: Furry Skin, EP (2012)Formed: 2009

With Ida Wenøe’s charismatic voice at the centre Boho Dancer’s alternative take on the folk genre ranges from gossamer-like elegance and delicacy to sombre drama. The trio employ instrumenta-tion stripped to the bare essentials. Few means perhaps – but to grand and chilling effect! Last year Boho Dancer were on a support tour for Legendary Sort Sol.Presented in collaboration with PDH.

bottled in englandGenre: Live drum’n’bassLatest album: Believe the Hype, ep (2011)Formed: 2010

The duo of Bottled in England generates a high-tension energy field of hand-played drum’n’bass that fuses technical excellence with the fierceness of punk. After years of playing together in other bands the two childhood friends Daniel Vognstrup and August Dyrborg decided to play alone, and you’ve got to admit that the band is living proof that it only takes two to party.

Keith canisius & the Holy dreamersGenre: Dream Pop | Latest album: The Great White Shark, EP (2011) | Career began: 2006

Born in the USA, Copenhagener Keith Canisius records his own music, but live he brings along the band The Holy Dreamers. With oneiric and psychedelic melodies Canisius and band invites the audience to relax, but the performance is filled with intense energy. The wistful, electronic pop encourages you to let your thoughts fly and let your feelings loose.

carlisGenre: ElectronicaLatest album: -Career began: 2009

Carlis builds enchanting snow castles of reverb, sculpts elegant towers of beautiful noise and carve rustling beats from ice blocks. In his tool box he is rumoured to keep a sampler, floppy discs, guitar pedals and a lot of other old gear which may me old but still too new to be "vintage", and it is simply amazing that all that old junk can create something so beautiful.

choir of young believersGenre: Grand melancholic rockLatest album: Rhine Gold (2012)Formed: 2006

Jannis Noya Makrigiannis and Choir of Young Believers may be suffering from wonderful, artistic growing pains. Seven men now make up the band’s regular line-up of inspired musicians who together draw on warm Americana, krautrock, neo folk and avantgarde compositions in a wide-ranging universe of sound which offers sparkling little pop gems and monumental, epic works of almost symphonic character.

chorus GrantGenre: Computer-GrungeLatest album: ... And The Villa Nova (2011)Career began: 2011

Chorus Grant is the solo project of River Phoenix lead singer Kristian Finne Kristensen. A Chorus Grant gig is quite an adventure with a very versa-tile set effortlessly moving from pop tunes with hit potential to more narrative, acoustic folk. In fact we’re talking about a wide range of genres but still with a common denominator: the grand melodies with an electronic touch.

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bands c-d

tim christensen and the damn crystalsGenre: Melodisk rock | Latest album: Tim Christensen And The Damn Crystals (2011) Career began: 1988

Tim Christensen is without a doubt one of the most significant men in modern Danish rock history. On his latest album "Tim Christensen And The Damn Crystals" he decided to explore a more collective approach and therefore brought his live band with him in the studio from day one. Together with the exceptionally skilled band he has created a melo-dious, unrestrained and progressive rock album.

christopherGenre: PopLatest album: Colours (2012)Career began: 2011

The music is straight-up pop music and the lyrics are about love and dreams for the future. When Christopher goes on stage with his live band, you’ll meet a happy lad who has a contagious energy and a delicious voice. So the scene is set for a gig with massive sing-along on hits such as "Against The Odds" and "Nothing In Common" when Christopher delivers his first-rate pop.

copcol – live reworked by t. finland & Mikkel MeyerGenre: Reworked alternativeLatest album: - | Formed: 2012

It will be unique when bands from the collective CopCol and the electronic musicians T. Finland and Mikkel Meyer challenge the conventional concert format. CopCol will be playing songs from the bands’ combined repertoire as one huge band but will have no control of the sound that the crowd is going to hear because T. Finland and Mikkel Meyer will manipulate the audio signals in a dazzling live remix.

søren dahl Jeppesen QuartetGenre: Jazz | Latest album: Red Sky (2011)Formed: 2009

In addition to composer and guitarist Søren Dahl Jeppesen the quartet consists of Óskar Gudjóns-son (sax), Klaus Nørgaard (bass) og Jakob Høyer (drums) who have perfected a beautiful, melodious kind of jazz. It almost sounds like a film score, it’s subdued and geared down, and although we are obviously talking jazz, it’s just as clear that part of the inspiration is found in many other genres.Presented in association with JazzDenmark

dig & MigGenre: Powerpop | Latest album: Skyggerne, digital single (2012) | Formed: 2010

Super catchy and uncontrollably energetic pop songs with Danish lyrics and breakneck punk guitar are what Dig & Mig are all about. With their refreshingly straightforward and upbeat approach to the noble art of song writing Dig & Mig have a knack for writing irresistible hits that invariably take the party up a notch and simply ooze youthful enthusiasm and happiness. Let’s go dancing!

aura dioneGenre: PopLatest album: Before The Dinosaurs (2011)Career began: 2007

The singles "Geronimo" and "Friends" are big hits in Denmark and Germany. Both songs are from the album "Before the Dinosaurs", which in Aura’s own words is a dose of progressive pop poetry. Aura is definitely a pop princess, and the album contains both danceable pop tunes with a twist of tribal drums and pop ballads with plenty of strings. It is pop brimming with energy and passion.

dying dyvekeGenre: Classical/Electronic Latest album: -Formed: 2011

A joint project between electronic musician Sandra Boss and classical singer/performer Katinka Fogh Vindelev. Taking golden-age composer Peter Heise’s "Dyveke Songs" as their point of departure they create a fusion of opera, electronics and sound-scapes. They are assisted by a string quartet, who conduct an experiment of their own by playing on strung-out, electronically manipulated fishing lines.Presented in collaboration with The Royal Academy of Music

donkeyboy (no)Genre: Pop | Latest album: Silver Moon (2012) | Formed: 2005

Norwegian Donkeyboy are already huge in their home country, and they have toured in England, Germany and Sweden. With the hit "City Boy", a song that makes it hard not to move one’s feet, the five Norwegians also conquered Denmark and soon became "track of the week" on P3. With a mix of classical 80s pop and an original electro sound they create their own style, which they call "retro-fresh".

dixoneGenre: Tropical Bass | Latest album: Belligerent, EP (2011) | Career began: 1999

Under his DJ alias Dixone Anders Dixen focuses on combining genres and never tires of looking for new sounds. Dixone has worked with a lot of very diverse artists and has released music through labels such as Mad Decent and Palms Out. He calls the genre Tropical Bass, but you also find traces of genres like kuduro, baile funk, moombahton, cumbia and house –and lots of electronic bass!NightSPOT - Presented in collaboration with Train.

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bands e-H

the echo VamperGenre: New wave/Art rock Latest album: It’s The Echo Vamper (2011)Formed: 2010

The Danish/British band consists of Iza Mortag Freund and James Brook. The two of them, who are also a couple outside the music career, have entered the Danish scene with a completely unique sound. The uniqueness is to be found in their individual eccentricities and their energetic and spontaneous gigs with intensity and attitude. The recipe is keeping it simple, authentic, raw and dirty.

the eclectic MonikerGenre: Pop | Latest album: A Part of Something Bigger, EP (2011) | Formed: 2010

The sound of The Eclectic Moniker sends you on a musical journey to warmer, more exotic countries – countries where you sprawl contemplatively in a hammock under the palm trees and start daydreaming of a better life with cocktails, joyful dancing and pretty girls from Argentina. The band’s invigorating pop songs keep moving in new directions and are presented with great musical confidence.

eLoQGenre: Hip hop Latest album: Mysterious, EP (2011) Career began: 2009

August Fenger Janson aka Eloq invites you into a wondrous world of hip hop, dubstep and grime, and his compositions spark associations to arcade games and retro computer sounds. He has long since become one of the key players on the Copenhagen hip hop scene. Among other things he has been DJing for acts like AK-47 and organised Rust’s Why Not Wednesday Club. He is also behind Cheff Records.

dJ er du dum eller HvadGenre: Deephouse electro house, dirty birds, 808Latest album: - | Career began: 2005

Made his way into the CPH club scene in the mid 00s and is now a coveted DJ all over DK. He has played back to back with Schlachthofbronx, Savage Skulls, Breum, Tue Track, etc. He has been support on two Suspekt tours and has played in France for two years. The profile is wide-ranging – you never know what is going to happen. Check out the Ungabunga mix tape with the Indiana Jones Theme and Beyonce among the goodies. NightSPOT - Presented in collaboration with Train.

ida GardGenre: Singersongwriter | Latest album: Knees, Feet & The Parts We Don’t Speak Of (2011) Career began: 2008

Ida Gard’s well-turned songs are luxurious pop with emotional depth in the lyrics and sophisticated arrangements. Ida Gard is not afraid to break with the rigid norms and let herself be inspired across the musical genres. She sings her songs with intense presence and a wide-ranging emotional register, and she moves convincingly from angry to fragile and sensual.

Ginger ninjaGenre: Rock Latest album: Wicked Map (2010)Formed: 2008

When Ginger Ninja go on stage at SPOT, it will be their first live gig in eight months. The reason is that they have spent all their time making new music, which they are looking forward to testing. Their debut album was electronic with pop appeal, but on the coming album the sound is closer to pure and organic rock, and that has made room for both up-tempo songs and a couple of slow ballads.Presented in collaoration with PDH.

Lukas GrahamGenre: Ghetto-PopLatest album: Lukas Graham (2012)Career began: 2011

Danish-Irish Lukas Graham has fallen in love with American soul, and what a romance it is! The single ”Ordinary Things” has been in obscene rotation on Danish radio stations, and it was hailed as 2011’s “Best Track of the Week” on P3. 77,000 people have already experienced the band live on tour, and with 35.000 copies of his debut album sold in only three weeks a double-platinum record is just around the corner.

Green pitchGenre: IndiepopLatest album: Asleep Awake Alert (2011)Formed: 1998

With a sensitive take on the singer/songwriter tradition, Green Pitch is a seductive acquaintance of great beauty and captivating tunes. By means of predominantly acoustic orchestrations the band creates a heart-warming closeness and a compel-ling intimacy, which is the perfect scenery for Rex Garfield’s delicate and fragile voice.

Hypertext (no) Genre: Astronaut krautLatest album: Walken, digital single (2012)Formed: 2006

With off-hand vocals, and repetitive kraut-rocking, slightly distorted guitars Hypertext tears along with bass and drums as a well-greased engine through a minefield of sound explosions. Straight ahead on the highway is not necessar-ily the beaten track as long as you have a lively imagination and unorthodox driving habits. In 2012 Hypertext leaves a trail of digital singles.

PHOTO: KaSPer Teiner

PHOTO: daniel bucHwald

PHOTO: Pernille bell

PHOTO: jaMel SundOO

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bands i-K

i Got you on tapeGenre: RockLatest album: Church Of The Real (2011)Formed: 2004

IGYOT play rock songs that are dark in terms of atmosphere as well as orchestration. A lot of other genres are included, however, when singer Bellens makes the songs and arranges them with the band. The band includes jazz musicians and they find inspiration both in melodious pop and in the unique narrative style of hip hop with beats, samples and hooks. Foreign markets are interested too.

ila auto (no)Genre: Bluegrass | Career began: 2006Latest album: Ila Auto (2010)

Ila Auto is a different bluegrass band, who have drawn attention to the live stage in their home city Oslo with an energetic and irresistible mix of country, folk and rock ’n’ roll. The playful music is reminiscent of dusty westerns and makes you recall the Soggy Bottom Boys from O Brother Where Art Thou?. It has brought the band recogni-tion and several awards in their home country as well as abroad.Presented in collaboration with GAFFA.

iKi (dK/no/fi/is)Genre: Vocal improvisationLatest album: IKI (2011)Formed: 2009

Under the motto "Nine voices, no rules" IKI make vocal music with a Nordic sound – which is a natural consequence of the nine girls’ origins in four different Nordic countries (DK, NO, FI, IS). IKI use many colours on the palette when they com-bine genres such as jazz, pop, classical and avant-garde, and although dogmas for the concert have been stated, there is room for open-mindedness. Presented in association with JazzDanmark

indianna dawnGenre: Alternativ folkLatest album: Somebody’s Dead (2011)Formed: 2008

Indianna Dawn is modern country with a Nordic flavour. It oozes of life in the country with cornfields and far between the houses. Once in a while cracks appear in the idyllic surface, and life – once so uncomplicated – is suddenly haunted by heartache and other obstacles in the quintet’s songs, which are written and sung with fragility, female strength and understated humour by Dianna Maria Døns.

in MemoirsGenre: IndieLatest album: -Career began: 2010

Ten years ago Morten Filipsen came in second at the MGP – the official children’s song contest in Denmark. Since then the young man has undergone a serious development towards inde-pendence. Today he writes his own autobiographi-cal songs under the alias In Memoirs and makes a virtue of investing personally in both lyrics and melodies. In Memoirs guarantees refined and velvety indie hits.

Kap Kap (fi)Genre: ExperimentalLatest album: Holy Are You (2010)Formed: 2006

With spellbinding rhythms and melancholy melodies Kap Kap explore a sombre and intense sound that makes heavy use of eerie synths, rattling guitars and chanting vocals. Kap Kap’s music comes across as an almost unsettling kind of shamanistic healing because the band creates an irresistible and a progressive trance that may seem scary yet fascinating.

Karrierekanonen 2012Genre: Hip hop, dancehall, rockLatest album: - Formed: -

DR’s Career Canon presents the 2012 winners at SPOT. The three winners were Kaliber from the western part of Copenhagen – hip hop from the hard school, the Danish-language dancehall duo Djäms Braun, who create their own universe and sound, and finally the rock outfit Dance With Dirt, who are capable of solid rock with intensity and nerve. The canon will be fired on Friday afternoon.

Kirsten & MarieGenre: Folk/PopLatest album: Newspeak (2012)Formed: 2009

For the album "Newspeak" the twins Kirsten and Marie asked two friends to write poems, around which the girls then composed the songs. There is a spontaneous joy in the melodious pop songs, but at the same time you sense an undertone of some-thing dramatic and dark. The girls present different atmospheres in a profound mix of indie pop and acoustic folk with an abundance of sounds. Presented in collaboration with PDH

Klumben & raske penge Genre: Reggae/Dancehall Latest album: -Formed: -

Both Klumben and Raske Penge have strong roots in reggae and dancehall – the former as a dancehall rapper with a new take on Jamaican ideals and the latter as a DJ under the alias Ras Money. Together their social realist approach has yielded the hit single "Rundt" – founded on the tracks from Dennis Brown’s "Revolution".

PHOTO: THeiS MOrTenSen

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bands K-L

Hanne Kolstø (no) Genre: PopLatest album: Riot Break (2011)Career began: 2005

Hanne Kolstø sparkles with indomitable creativity, and she channels this creative urge into no less than three bands in addition to her solo career. Solo she uses her loop station, guitar and her small keyboards ingeniously while singing her multi-facetted songs with dizzying ease. Kolstø has a great feel for both the details and the artistic whole in her vertiginously brilliant pop music.

Kúra (dK/is)Genre: ElectronicaLatest album: Halfway To The Moon (2012)Formed: 2010

The Danish/Icelandic trio Kúra – ’caress’ in Icelan-dic – play electronica with a rock-like edge and a touch of dub. Their first song "GoGo" was a mas-sive underground hit, but with their new record and their minimalist and melancholy sound they now enter the spotlight. When Kúra go on stage, they play the melodica, synth, guitar and sing, and then they bring a drummer along to emphasize their rock dimension.

LadylionGenre: Indiefolk/alternative pop Latest album: - | Career began: 2012

Behind the pen name Ladylion we find the songwriter Randi Løvendahl, whose unique musical universe is vigorous and charming. With clear references to the American indie folk scene, she produces alternative pop with equal shares of edge, nerve and sweetness. After spending much of her time writing songs on her own in a small Parisian flat, Ladylion is eager to present the results at SPOT.Presented in collaboration with The Royal Academy of Music

Mads LangerGenre: Singersongwriter/PopLatest album: Behold (2011)Career began: 2006

Time and again he has demonstrated his obvious talent and his Midas touch with which he creates countless melodious ballads. Songs from his third album "Behold" has dominated Danish radio channels and especially "You’re Not Alone" and "Fact-Fiction" have been big hits for Mads Langer. What seemed but a boyhood dream about rock stardom has now come true for Langer.

Larsen & furious JaneGenre: Rhythmic music | Latest album: Dolly (2011) | Formed: 2002

Critics often point to Larsen & Furious Jane as one of the most unfairly overlooked bands in DK. How-ever, since the free, digital release of their latest album "Dolly" it looks as if their almost claustro-phobic rock is finally beginning to get the attention it deserves. In the wake of the release they have reached a much larger audience, and the album ranked high on various "best of 2011" lists.

Lay Low (is)Genre: Alternative folk Latest album: Farewell Good Night’s Sleep (2009) Career began: 2006

Lay Low is Lovísa Elísabet Sigrúnardóttir’s alter ego. The Icelandic singer-songwriter combines her beautifully poetic mother tongue with the classical Americana sound to an artistic whole that exudes softness, warmth and honkey-tonk blues. She knows the country genre inside out, but her addition of a trip hop twist breaks new ground and takes the songs out of the safe zone.

LcMdf (fi)Genre: PopLatest album: Love & Nature (2011)Formed: 2006

The irresistible sisters Emma and Mia Kemppainen conjure up a rainbow-coloured pop sound on a clear, blue sky of happy hits. The tunes take permanent residence in your cerebral cortex, and you just surrender joyfully to their infectious en-thusiasm. They mix quaint sound experiments with handsome doses of the no-nonsense approach of pop and a wealth of crazy ideas in songs that compel you to sing along.

LinkobanGenre: Grime/rap | Latest album: Like This, single (2012) | Career began: 2011

Linkoban is the newest shooting star on the Dan-ish urban scene from Lucy Love’s record company Superbillion Records. After a long stay in London, she returned to Denmark and got in touch with Lucy Love and Yo Akim. Her first single "Like This", a truly catchy hybrid of solid bass and dancehall, has exploded in Denmark and abroad. No point in trying to deny LInkoban’s overwhelming star potential.NightSPOT - Presented in collaboration with Train.

freja LoebGenre: Pop noirLatest album: Odyssey (2011)Career began: 2009

Freja Loeb creates perfected pop with an 80s-inspired sound. Together with her tight band this stylish musician produces soulful disco music that possesses a contagious energy and a compelling mysteriousness, and which she has written with a feeling of artistic necessity. In 2012 Freja Loeb has been on an extensive tour playing support for Tim Christensen And The Damn Crystals.

PHOTO: baldur KriSTjanS

PHOTO: niKlaS SandSTOM

bands L-n

shaka LovelessGenre: Reggae, Rock, PopLatest album: Tomgang, single (2011)Career began: 2006

28-year-old Shaka Loveless has his roots in Jut-land but lives in Copenhagen with Wafande. Being the lead singer of Gypsies he is a familiar face on the Danish music scene, but not he has embarked on a solo career. On his latest single "Tomgang" he mixes groovy reggae with contemplative lyrics from amid the throng in the big city. Sunny reggae is fused with the melancholy of the Danish winter.

Lovespeed Genre: Alternative, indie, melodicLatest album: -Formed: 2010

The songs of the quintet Lovespeed confidently unite fierce rock with pop light making Lovepeed a sensitive hybrid. Jeffrey Hessellund’s fragile, yet rock-solid voice makes heavy drums and folk-like guitar riffs get along just fine. Lovespeed were selected from hundreds of bands in Royal Beers’ band base and subsequently made the cut to play at the SPOT Festival. Presented in collaboration with Tak Rock!

Veronica Maggio (se)Genre: Rock/PopLatest album: Satan i Gatan (2011)Career began: 2006

She is one of the biggest Swedish stars right now, and her slightly offbeat and cool but extremely catchy pop music in Swedish wins new hearts every day. Veronica got a massive breakthrough with the album "Och Vinnaren Är…" in 2008 and followed up with "Satan I Gatan" last year. Maggio’s clear, soft voice is at the centre and her set list includes upbeat radio pop hits and touching ballads.

The success from last year strips it to the core again. Four solo artists from very diverse genres have been invited to present four of their songs – but in new garments. The Swedish pianist Gustaf Ljunggren will have the artistic reigns, and on two nights in a row he will accompany Ane Trolle, Johan Olsen (Magtens Korridorer), Clara Sofie and Silas Bjerregaard (Turboweekend) on his piano.Supported by DPA

naked – a singer and a piano

Gustaf Ljunggren(piano)

Ane Trolle

Clara Sofie

Silas Bjerregaard Johan Olsen

PHOTO: eMil rønn anderSen

PHOTO: PeTer Mcnally

PHOTO: gOrM valenTin

PHOTO: eMMa SvenSSOn

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daniel norgren (se)Genre: DynamicLatest album: Black Vultures, EP (2011)Career began: 2007

Daniel Norgren is a musical octopus. He handles the guitar and the drums simultaneously in his energetic, modern take on traditional delta blues where traces of gospel, folk and country are every-where. The sound seems genuinely American, but at the same time Daniel Norgren finds a lot of inspiration in the vigorous life and raw scenery of the Swedish forests.

novemberdecemberGenre: Indie-folk | Latest album: November-December, ep (2012) | Formed: 2011

NovemberDecember is honest and insistent folk. The songs are relevant, and the sound is defined by rattling guitars, roaring drums, and strong choir passages. The music revolves around the things we have in common across layers of society and geography. Around love and childhood. Around growing up and freeing oneself from outside ele-ments in technology as well as in nature.Presented in collaboration with The Royal Academy of Music.

nikolaj nørlundGenre: Danish retro-futuristic rockLatest album: Alt sammen, lige nu (2012)Career began: 1991

Nikolaj Nørlund can look back on a 20-year-long career and by now he has established himself as one of the most significant players in Danish music. All through his career he has broken fascinating new ground as a musician as well as a producer and a record company owner. His most recent achievement is the album "Alt sammen, lige nu" in close collaboration with Christian Hjelm (Figurines).

Marius (fo)Genre: Alternative folkLatest album: Masses, EP (2011)Career began: 1999

Singer and songwriter Marius Ziska Formed his career at the age of just 16 when taking part in the Faroese talent show Prix Føroyar with the rock band Flux. Today Marius plays inspired, alternative folk, which is both traditional and experimental. The charming lad with the charismatic voice promises "a unique atmosphere from a nation where the sheep outnumber the people. Exotic, yet familiar".

the Megaphonic thrift (no)Genre: Noise rockLatest album: The Megaphonic Thrift (2012)Formed: 2007

With a firm grip on a chaos of noise The Megaphonic Thrift control their own mind-blowing world of sound of hissing guitars, white noise and pulsating drums. The vocals change from honey-sweet, bittersweet and out-and-out bitter. The latest album got top marks in several Danish music media, and the members of the band have asked us to say that they intend to return the love at SPOT.

MellemblondGenre: Big City BluesLatest album: Elastisk, EP (2011)Formed: 2006

The elegantly underplayed rock poet Kristoffer Munck Mortensen and Mellemblond deliver a solid, rattling, and sophisticated kind of rock in Danish with big city longing pouring off it and haunted by piercing layers of sound and psychedelic magic dust. The reviewers have long since discovered Mellemblond. So it seems it is about time to put up one’s hair for a red-carpet reception.

Meneo (Gt/es) (es) Genre: Limbo powerLatest album: Santa Nalga (2009) Career began: 1997

MENEO is Rigo Pex. He excels in electronic music that stands out from conventional forms. Part of the orchestration consists of old Gameboys when he creates his very own hybrid genre, which he calls electropical beats. It’s 8-bit at its most soul-ful! He has great live experience from Spain as well as a large number of festival gigs including French Transmusicales and Spanish Primavera Sound.Presented in collaboration with Zona de Obras / Charco / Días Nórdicos Festival

My bubba & MiGenre: Home made countryLatest album: Wild & You, EP (2011)Formed: 2008

One might imagine My Bubba & Mi as two female employees on one of the first American steelworks who have succeeded in piecing together a time machine and who then travel to our time with their banjo and guitar as their only luggage. In any case they bring an old American songwriter tradition with them into the present, and they wrap it in homemade songs that are delicate and lasting.

MØ (dK)Genre: ElectroCrunkPopLatest album: -Career began: 2009

23-year-old MØ has just returned from New York, where she finished writing her debut album with JD Samson (Le Tigre). MØ’s sound is electronic and sampled, massive but pop, and her clear, naïve voice oscillates between everything from "crunky rap to sombre, compelling surfaces". MØ has worked with the producers Dixone, ELOQ and Dave Spoon. MØ says it will be a gig of ElectroCrunkPop with a touch of Nordic melancholy.

bands M-o

PHOTO: caMilla HOlM birKeland

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bands p-r

of the Wand & the MoonGenre: Neo-folkLatest album: The Lone Descent (2011)Career began: 1999

Of The Wand And The Moon is a well-known act both in Denmark and abroad from the venues but rarely gets much attention in the media. The man behind is called Kim Larsen, and he is also involved in the funeral doom band Black Wreath, but in the solo project OTWATM he explores the neo folk/folk noir genre. He invites you into a world of bated breath, darkness and melancholy.

prinspóló (is)Genre: Alternative popLatest album: Jukk (2011)Career began: 2009

As a child he worked at a farm in Iceland, and every time he had a moment to himself, he turned his locked-up emotions into songs and recorded them on cassette tapes. Wearing a prince’s crown Prinspóló slashes the great Icelandic outdoors with songs that like the wilds can be quiet and playful and raging or melancholic a moment later. The guitar is the backbone of his songs in Icelandic.

rangleklodsGenre: Experimental electronic popLatest album: Beekeeper (2012)Career began: 2009

When Rangleklods makes music, genre is not an issue. In his club-friendly compositions he unites the deep-felt nerve of rock with the extrovert playfulness of pop and conducts experiments with combinations of opposites like techno and acoustic folk – there simply are no rules! Live Rangleklods has Tikki (picture) with him on stage to underline the joining together of electronic and organic.

orange extendedGenre: FunkLatest album: -Formed: 2011

When the Aftryk festival was held last year, con-tinuation school bands from all over the country competed for the right to play at this year’s SPOT Festival. The five funky lads from Orange Extended were the lucky and deserved winners. Since then, they have worked hard to become an even better band, and they are eager to give a concert full of catchy, guitar-driven and upbeat funk music.Presented in collaboration with Aftryk Festival.

the raveonettesGenre: Rock’n’rollLatest album: Rarities/B-sides (2011)Formed: 2002

Exactly ten years ago The Raveonettes played at the SPOT Festival for the first time, and were discovered by Rolling Stone senior editor David Fricke who lavished so much praise on them in his review that it kick-Formed their impres-sive, international career. To celebrate the tenth anniversary The Raveonettes will play the entire debut EP "Whip It On" with the original line-up from back then.

papirGenre: Instrumental rockLatest album: Stundum (2011)Formed: 2009

Copenhagen band Papir play semi-improvised, psychedelic rock. That means that when the three lads play together, they have decided on a general form, but otherwise it’s free play on drums, guitar and bass. Both on their album "Stundum" and live we are talking about your money’s worth of jam! The audience will be able to hear the music take shape on stage, and no two concerts with Papir are alike.

rebekkaMaria & the HymnboyGenre: Spritural folkpop | Latest album: Oh Soli-tude (Live), digital single (2011) | Formed: 2010

The songwriters RebekkaMaria and mastermind of Hymns From Nineveh Jonas Petersen have convened in the intimate shape of hushed duo concerts where they play and sing quiet duet versions of songs from their respective back catalogues. The duo concerts are based on vocal harmonies, piano, guitar and cello. It’s delicate, serene and zealous.

Kristina renéeGenre: Elektronic singersongwriterLatest album: For Now, minialbum (2012)Career began: 2011

When Kristina Renée played at the SPOT Opening last year, it was the first time she played for more than 100 people. That night she played three songs, but this year she will return with more experience and a brand new album. Her music is melancholy and at times imposing and it playfully brings together a pop-like, electronic universe with an acoustic one. It is singer/songwriter with a twist

reptile youthGenre: Post-pop | Latest album: Speeddance, single (2012) | Formed: 2009

Played their first SPOT gig last year (as Reptile & Retard) and that concert was the explosion that made everybody turn to look. At home and abroad. The gripping, synthified electro rock and a crowd-surfing insanity show have created a massive buzz everywhere without even a single release. Renamed themselves Reptile Youth at the turn of the year and became more band-oriented but no less fascinating.

PHOTO: raMSuS weng KarlSen

PHOTO: larS dearMan

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bands r-s

risingGenre: MetalLatest album: To Solemn Ash (2011)Formed: 2008

Loud volume and grand metal hymns are but a couple of the headlines when the members of Rising go on stage. The Copenhagen trio are synonymous with a dedicated and energetic performance with a massive punch. Mixing genres such as heavy, psychedelic rock, punk and sludge they end up with their very own sound. Rising is, in short, modern and monumental metal at its most brutal.

naja rosaGenre: Rock’n’roll + Soul | Latest album: The Place I Call Home (2012) | Career began: 2010

Part of the Savage Rose family Naja Rosa is used to music having always been a fundamental part of her life. Now when embarking on her own career she is still eager to find the primordial force of music. With a predilection for authentic southern blues and soul Naja Rosa and her regular group of skilled musicians deliver a timeless rock ’n’ roll with contagious energy and soulful stories.Presented in collaboration with PDH

rosemaryGenre: ElektronicLatest album: A Persian Tale, EP (2011)Formed: 2009

The Iranian/Danish duo Rosemary take on the often conflict-ridden meeting of the Middle East and the West. With nods to disco, a popular genre in Iran in the 70s, and with female vocals, which were banned after the Iranian revolution in 1979, Danish Lasse Martinussen and Iranian-born Sahar Pour create stylish, at times hysterical and funda-mentally wistful and synth-driven pop.

rum 37Genre: Danish Pop/RockLatest album: Rum 37, EP (2011)Formed: 2009

With a frenzied Copenhagen everyday as the point of departure Rum 37 tell stories about being in a transitional stage in one’s life – about moving from something safe and familiar to the unknown. From studying to working life. From being young to a grown up, etc. Rum 37 put forth their rites of passage with a Nordic/Scandinavian sound in energetic, almost aggressive live performances.

sakaris (fo)Genre: ElectropopLatest album: Darling, EP (2010)Career began: 2007

The music sends the listener straight into a happy computer universe where 16-bit is the dominant technology. Sakaris mixes breathlessly playful pop with mournful and pessimistic lyrics as if the Super Nintendo characters have left their adventurous worlds and have been struck by everyday reality and its problems, but have somehow kept the soundtrack music. Impatient, ironic, bright and nostalgic. Presented in association with Nordens Hus, Tórshavn and TUTL

schultz and foreverGenre: Freak folkLatest album: Odd Stories, EP (2011)Career began: 2011

Schultz And Forever is 17-year-old Jonathan Schultz’s solo project. He has been gifted with an intense and personal voice and a tuneful, folk-inspired grip of the strings, and he has a bril-liant sense of beautiful vocal harmonies. At SPOT Schultz Forever is going to translate his intimate home records to a band format, and you may expect a strange yet beautiful concert with the sky as the only limit.

Hannah schneiderGenre: Alternative pop | Latest album: Me Vs. I (2012) | Career began: 2007

Hannah Schneider is inspired by the sounds around her, and the sounds of fingers tapping on the kitchen table and of a door closing are part of what gives the melodious tunes a definite edge. Her clear voice conveys themes like melancholy and loneliness effortlessly. Live she has a grand sound and a visual dimension when all the mem-bers of her band play several instruments – simultaneously!Presented in collaboration with PDH.

savage roseGenre: Rock, But with detoursLatest album: Universal Daughter (2007)Formed: 1967

From the start The Savage Rose drew on classical music as well as jazz and pop. Inspired by the youth rebellion of the 60s they made a new kind of rock packed with blues, soul, jazz and gospel. Later they went acoustic and political, before the band returned to the electrified music in the 90s and won their large audience back. The first big export success in Danish rock, and now they want to go abroad again!

shiny darklyGenre: Psychedelic post-punk | Latest album: - | Formed: 2011

Shiny Darkly presents dark and hallucinating noise pop that draws on post punk as well as shoegaze and other experimental forms of guitar-based and unpolished rock. The Copenhagen trio champions a compelling expression of fierceness which is paradoxically sincere in all its distanced acid trips into the dark. It’s going to be intense, noisy and droning like a drug. Presented in collaboration with Bobkat Agency and Crunchy Frog.

PHOTO: cHriSTian HjOrT

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bands s-s

simon says no! (no)Genre: Foo-gazeLatest album: Simon Says No! (2011)Formed: 2007

On a US tour in 2009 Norwegian Simon Says No! discovered that people at their gigs labelled their music "Foo gaze" – a fusion of Foo Fighters and shoegaze. It is not far off the mark because the band’s black-clad songs are really hard-hitting rock with stadium potential and at the same time share the interest in the various sound textures of noise with shoegaze.

sky architectsGenre: Doom popLatest album: The Reflection, EP (2011)Formed: 2004

Sky Architects paint apocalyptic imaginations in pastel with their massive guitar riffs, pink clouds of rainy noise and thundering drums. The band possesses outright pop qualities and incorporates soulful vocals and wistful piano tunes to form great contrasts to their more hard-hitting ele-ments. For their SPOT gig Sky Architects will bring along no less than seven guests to play with them.

slagsmålsklubben (se)Genre: Swedish electro-synth | Latest album: Boss for leader (2007) | Formed: 2000

Slagsmålsklubben came into being by a coinci-dence during a Swedish small-town punk band’s jam session. Since then the electro group has moved up in the world. French Kitsuné signed them ahead of many other labels, and their live rep is outstanding. Their new album "The Garage" makes it clear just how far they have actually come. With a more mature and unpolished sound they are now ready to conquer the world. NightSPOT - Presented in collaboration with Train.

slayer big band project - feat. aarhus Jazz orche-stra (dK) & c.c.J.o. (de)Genre: Jazz, metal | Latest album: This Is The Girl (2009) | Formed: 1977

It’s going to be a wild clash of slashing guitars, female vocals, jazz winds, and thundering drums when Aarhus Jazz Orchestra (formerly known as Kluiverts Big Band) takes on the genre-breaking Slayer Big Band Project. For the first time – probably – in SPOT history the crowd will get the chance to headbang to a saxophone when the band breaks new ground under a new name and with the new leader Lars Møller.

snake & Jet's amazing bullit bandGenre: Postmodern psychedelic rock | Latest album: Stuff That Rotates (2012) | Formed: 2008

"Stuff That Rotates" is the title of the record that Snake and Jet’s Amazing Bullit Band have been working on lately, and the circular movement is indeed a recurrent motif in the music. The rhythm twirls. The tunes go round and round. Themes are repeated. With a classic rock line-up and delicious-ly sleazy congas dirty, leathery sound textures are explored in tight-fitting and groovy rhythms. Presented in collaboration with Bobkat Agency and Crunchy Frog.

sóley (is)Genre: PopLatest album: We Sink (2012)Career began: 2010

Icelandic Sóley’s music is both soulful and playful. She keeps her music in delicate shades and creates an imaginative universe of creaky rhythms and melancholy melodies. The elegant and fragile, folk-inspired songs have been sprinkled with silver glitter and adorned with coloured feathers and they seem childishly carefree as well as serious and sorrowful.

stoffer & MaskinenGenre: Danish popLatest album: Stoffer & Maskinen (2010)Formed: 2009

In a way it is very Danish and yet completely unique. A fabulous and atmospheric whole stands out incredibly clearly when Stoffer’s Danish lyrics fuse with Maskinen’s expressive and wide-ranging sound universe. Stoffer & Maskinen are voice and music. The voice is strong and holds so much longing and honesty that sparks fly in the captivat-ing, electronic pop melodies. Presented in collaboration with PDH

spillemændeneGenre: ArtfolkLatest album: EP, ep (2012)Formed: 2010

With Nicolai Elsberg’s deep voice at the front this young Copenhagen group modernise the Danish ballad tradition in a soundscape of sophisticated guitars, dramatic synth, swaying bass lines and dusty drums. Spillemændene made their debut last year with an EP created in fruitful collabora-tion with Nikolaj Nørlund. The band’s name is a reference to Johannes V. Jensen’s novel The Fall of the King.

sun riverGenre: Folk-rock Latest album: - Formed: 2009

Sun River’s experimental folk rock flows like a bright stream towards the horizon. With brilliant finger style, swirling drums and Martin Rude’s laidback, yet inspired vocal performances the band creates wonderful musical sun flicker that both pleases and challenges the listener. Besides Rude Sun River’s line up also includes Jonas Munk and Jakob Skøtt, who are also in Causa Sui.

PHOTO: MOrTen rygaard

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bands s-W

sVinGenre: Post rockLatest album: Heimat (2011)Formed: 2008

The name is SVIN (literally "pig") and the wild and powerful explosions can be seen as manifestations of the animal’s brawn and primitive brains. SVIN is to be found in the epicentre of the clash of modern experimental music, avant-garde jazz and lyrical post rock. It is a descent into a sonic underworld of untamed energy. Your ears will be cleansed in massive riffs, metal jazz and white noise.

svøbsk & Michael MøllerGenre: Folk | Latest album: En klang af tidløshed (2009) / A Month Of Unrequited Love (2011)Formed: 2012

As the first ever the SPOT audience will get the op-portunity to witness a concert with brand new music composed and evolved for this occasion by one of Denmark’s most respected folk bands Svøbsk and Michael Møller (Moi Caprice). What the music will be like remains a secret until they go on stage at SPOT, but rumour has it that there will be both sombre Americana and traditional Nordic folk music. Presented in collaboration with World MusicDenmark Secretariat for Danish Folk Music.

tako Lako + special guestGenre: Psychedelic Gypsy BeatsLatest album: Through the Mud, Digital Download (2012) | Formed: 2007

Breathless Tako Lako are well on their way to cult status – both in Scandinavia and in the UK. They are notorious for their ecstatic concerts where the floor is on fire and everybody is soaked in sweat – the seven-tall band and the dancing crowd that is! The air is thick with psychedelic Balkan beats, folk, rock, bombastic trumpet and tramp of boots when Tako Lako + Special Guest take the stage.

taragana pyjaramaGenre: ElektronicLatest album: Taragana Pyjarama, EP (2011)Career began: 2011

Besides being hard to pronounce, Taragana Pyjarama is also the alias of Nick Eriksen. In May Taragana Pyjarama’s acclaimed debut EP will be followed up by an album, which in particular has been designed to maximize the live experience. Live the music is even freer and gives Nick Eriksen and his friends room to improvise and toy with it on stage. A dreamlike fusion of electronic sounds.

VesselGenre: SingersongwriterLatest album: Enlettered Species (2012)Career began: 2009

The inspiration from Cohen and Dylan is obvious in Vessel’s singer/songwriter sound. Vessel updates the genre, however, with modern acoustic patterns, and especially his lyrics explore new ground. Whereas the genre traditionally makes very existential observations, Vessels poetry addresses abstract and philosophical questions. Vessel is the solo project of Anders Mathiesen (also known from Murder).

trepacGenre: Authentic hip hopLatest album: Fatamorgana (2011)Career began: 2011

Trepac is also known as one half of the rap duo M-Cnatet, but in 2011 he released the solo album "Fatamorgana". The sombre and at times sinister sound from the debut will be shelved for the gig at SPOT where Trepac, with the Aarhus band Monkey Bars as backing, is going to deliver an energetic concert – and everybody is invited! At the same time there will be room for depth and personality.

WafandeGenre: Reggae/SoulLatest album: Du Ved Det (2011)Career began: 2010

Danish/French/African Wafande has played at SPOT before, but it is the first time that he goes on stage in his own name and with his own blend of soul and reggae with African rhythms and Danish lyrics. The dancing shoes will be smoking hot when Wafande ignites the dance floor with high spirits, reggae rhythms and the single hit "Gi’ mig et smil". Irresistibly, happy songs about happy times.

Ulige numreGenre: RockLatest album: Ulige Numre, EP (2011)Formed: 2010

The poetry of the lyrics is important in Ulige Numre’s universe. The inspiration for the personal and intentionally high -flown lyrics written by singer Carl Emil includes the American songwriter and storyteller tradition. The sound is dusty and guitar-driven, but when playing live the four lads bring along two wind players, which underlines their modern and dynamic soundscape.

Waldo & MarshaGenre: Shoegaze | Latest album: Smiling at the Ground, EP (2012) | Formed: 2009

By means of balmy tunes and full throttle on the guitar effects Waldo & Marsha lure the listener into a pleasant absentminded daydream with their stylish deliverance of misty, shoegaze-infected pop songs. They have been on several mini tours in Germany, where the reception has been warm – as was the case at last year’s SPOT, where the cur-rent collaboration with the label Speed of Sound was initiated.

PHOTO: anderS Kylberg

PHOTO: cHriSTian HjOrT

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rasmus WalterGenre: PopLatest album: Rasmus Walter (2011)Career began: 2011

After almost a decade as lead singer of Grand Avenue, Rasmus Walther has now embarked on a successful solo career with his eponymous debut album from 2011. The solo move had to happen sooner or later, but it was a surprise – even to Ras-mus Walther – that he would make the transition to pop music in Danish. So far his genre shift has yielded the hit single "Dybt Vand".

young dinosaurGenre: IndieLatest album: -Formed: 2011

Young Dinosaur mix their pop flair for captivating tunes with equal shares of distorted guitars, catchy bass figures, versatile drums and acidifer-ous soap bubbles. Jens Ramon of Figurines has long since discovered the band’s potential, and they are now recording their first album with his assistance. Our bet is that Young Dinosaur will soon put their hometown Skørping on the Danish music map.

Zebra and snake (fi)Genre: Healing musicLatest album: Sweetest Treasure, EP (2012)Formed: 2007

Tapio and Matti are two old friends, who in an in-spirational cross field ranging from Fleetwood Mac via Krautrock to ambient electronic sounds have created their very own warm, happy and festive electronic Technicolor. They have already toured in Europe from the UK to Spain, and on stage the group’s pulsating synth beats are combined with a drummer, who takes the party to an even higher level.

VenueLab- a venue project

Karsten Pflumm SpejderrobotPHOTO: raSMuS weng KarlSen

Steffen WestmarkPHOTO: MarTin daM KriSTenSen

Ida GardPHOTO: Pernille bell

Info: www.spotfestival.dk/nyheder/venue-lab-et-musikalsk-forsogslaboratorie

VenueLab is a live concert project where twelve musicians from diverse positions in Danish music are divided into three groups across genres. All three groups are given three days at a regional live venue to write new music. At SPOT the groups will play a triple concert with 30 minutes from each group. The participants include Anna Brønsted, Steffen West-mark, Spejderrobot, Naja Rosa, Oliver Hoiness and Ida Gard.

Group 1: Spejderrobot, Naja Rosa, Lars Buchholtz og Claus A (No Common Venue)

Group 2: Anna Brønsted (Our Broken Garden), Steffen Westmark (The Blue Van), Frederik Sybrandt (The Jackals) og Trine Lønnee (Fuskenbuks)

Group 3: Oliver Hoiness (Kira Skov, Under The Sherry Moon), Karsten Pflum, Ida Gard og Orhan Ôzgur Turan.

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the Luna boots (LU) & esther MariaGenre: 60's-70's folk/singersongwriter

Esther Maria is an Aarhus-based singer/songwrit-er. In 2005 she released the EP "My Black Heart", which was a melancholy and heart-felt version of country and folk. What characterizes Esther Maria’s music is her ability to create imagery that takes the listener on a journey and connects the music and Esther Maria. The Luna Boots from Luxembourg has a great predilection for acoustic instruments and the classical singer/songwriter tradition as it was in the 60s and 70s. Furthermore, they shows great linguistic versatility: they sing in Danish, French and Luxembourg.

sóley (is) & darkness fallsGenre: Pop/Electro-rock

Darkness Falls is a rock duo consisting of Josephine Philip (vocals and keyboard) and Ina Lindgren (guitar and bass). Together they conjure up a dramatic and atmospheric sound that mixes twang guitar with synths, hard drums and a distinctive voice. The duo is hard to label as they mix the classic rock tradition with modern ar-rangements to create a dynamic and varied sound. The duo will go on stage together with Sóley. The Icelandic multi instrumentalist plays catchy and fragile folk-like tunes that are carried by her voice and piano. Until unexpected elements such as rhythmical creaks break up the flow, that is! In 2011 Sóley released the album "We Sink", which made the reviewers compare her to both Björk and Lykke Li.

Masha Qrella (de)& dangers of the seaGenre: Folk-singersongwriter/Pop-indie-rock

In Dangers of the Sea’s melodious and guitar-based universe sparkling indie pop meets melancholic folk rock. The band was formed in 2010 by Andreas Bay Estrup, who brought together musicians from bands like Saybia and Efterklang. They find their inspiration in 60s and 70s folk rock as well as R.E.M. and Midlake. In the spring of 2011 the band was selected for the P3 Career Canon, and they are now adding the finishing touches to their debut EP. German Masha Qrella is going to be Dangers of the Sea’s musical play-mate. Her 2002 debut album as a solo artist was a singer-songwriter affair. On her second album she covered Kurt Weill and Frederic Loewe. Now she is working on a new album entitled "Analogies", and here you’ll get Masha Qrella’s version of pop, which is really a mix of folk and indie rock.

Marybell Katastroph & nils frahm (de)Genre: Avantgarde pop/Neo-classical piano music

When Marybell Katastrophy and Nils Frahm go on stage together at InterSPOT, adventurous avant-garde pop will meet neo-classical piano composi-tions. Since the debut "This is the one" Marybell Katastophy has found their unique identity with their love of experimental, electronic elements and noise rock orchestration. With his contemplative and personal approach to the piano Nils Frahm has won many hearts around the world. Among the most prominent fans of Frahm’s compositions is radiohead’s Thom York. Marybell Katastrophy amd Nils Frahm met during the mastering of the latter’s album "Felt" and fell for each other’s music. At an exclusive collaborative gig at SPOT they will fuse Frahm’s delicate and intimate music with the up-beat pop of MaryBell Katastrophy’s new album "Amygdala".

Garish (at) Genre: Melodic filmmusic/Folk-pop

Garish and Il Tempo Gigante were supposed to be part of the InterSPOT project, but Il Tempo Gigante had to withdraw from the project due to a hand injury. But the audience can still experience Garish at this year’s SPOT.

Garish have a knack for combining quiet songs with hymn-like choruses. Their passionate tunes engage the audience in a broad emotional spectrum when combined with the German lyrics. In addition to four albums Garish have also made the soundtrack for the Austrian film “Tintenfis-chalarm”.

interspot

InterSPOT has become an integral part of SPOT, and this year too there will be special concerts with Danish and inter-national acts on the stage at the same time. The InterSPOT concept is that five Danish acts are paired with five foreign ones. The five constellations are then to play a set with four to five songs from each of the two bands’ back catalogue – and play them together mind you!

As something new two band pairings have been decided by a Danish/German music business and media committee in collaboration with VUT (the German in-dependent record companies and music businesses). Soley, who is on a German label, will hook up with Darkness Falls, and the other Danish/German pairing involves Dangers of the Sea and Masha Qrella. In addition to the SPOT gigs the two constellations are also to play in Berlin in September.

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friday

MUsic & Media pitcH GerMany 10:00 – 13:00, Place: Promus, Vester Allé 15, 8000 Aarhus

During the meeting you will have the opportunity to meet: Michael Schmidt (Exit Strategy Entertainment), Pia Hoffmann (Music Supervising), Cathrin von Seld (My Foxy Music), Birte Krohn (Krohn Musik), Ingmar Rehberg (Yessian), Marion Mertin (Marion Mertin Music Consulting), Django Seelenmeyer (Music & Business Consultant, Klangspeicher Musikverlag), Anette Unger (Bremedia Produktion) and Wolf Lang (Threaks).

Presented by PROMUS

Host: Jesper MardalPromus

Gerd LeonHard “Music industry future scenarios: the next 3-5 years. the cloud, the creators, the rights, the money and the people formerly known as consumers”15.00– 16.00, Place: Remisen, Godsbanen

The world famous futurist and keynote speaker Gerd Leonhard will – amongst other things – touch upon what he refers to as Music 2.0: Re-setting the music business. The music industry (both recorded music and publishing) is experiencing a tidal wave of disruption, and a total reset is in the making: Music 2.0 is around the corner. Presented by SPOT

tHe festiVaL of tHe fUtUre 16.15 – 17.15, Place: Remisen, Godsbanen

Are festivals – as we know them – a thing of the past, are there simply too many of them, or are they too much alike? Sonisphere and many other big festivals, es-pecially in the UK, pull the plug, and during the last years we have witnessed many big festivals shutting down in Scandinavia as well – amongst others the Norwegian festival Quart. What does the future hold for festivals and how will they survive?Presented by NorthSide Festival:

Panel:

Claes Olsen Stephan Thanscheidt Moderator: John FogdeHead of booking, KP Scorpio, Spokesman, NorthSide Festival, Oya Festival, Oslo, Norway Hamburg, Germany Aarhus, Denmark

pitcH yoUr MUsic or proJect to GerMan MUsic and Media professionaLs.

Keynote speaKer

Gerd Leonhard Futurist, Author, CEO of The Futures Agency

saturday

sHeiLa WHiteLey “the political and cultural implications of gender imbalance in popular music”11.00 – 12.00, Place: Radar, Godsbanen

Sheila Whiteley, Chair of Popular Music at the University of Salford until December 2006, and receiver of three European Social Fund awards for her research into Women and the Cultural Indus-tries. She speaks about Popular Music and Issues surrounding

gender, identity, subjectivity and sexuality.

Presented by SPOT

scott coHen show Me the Money 12.15 – 13.15, Place: Radar, Godsbanen

“Show Me The Money – Making money in the Music industry is a challenge. The digital age created more opportunities but also added layers of complexity. Learn the tricks of the trade.” Find out more about The Orchard at http://www.theorchard.com/Presented by SPOT

fiLMby aarHUs and aarHUs sHort fiLM cHaLLenGe presents fiLMs on tHe spot.5. May 18.00-21.00 at Parron 2

Get in an old school cinema mode – drop by Aarhus Filmby’s “Die Asta”, which has moved to Godsbanen for the SPOT Festival.

We offer a great movie atmosphere when we show the ten best films from the Aarhus Short Film Challenge 2012. We will provide bubbles, popcorn, great dj’s and lots and lots of ambiance.

The night will also feature the premiere of the documentary “How to make a short film in 7 days”, which is produced and directed by the people behind Aarhus Short Film ChallangePresented in association with SPOT

Keynote speaKer

Keynote speaKer

Scott Cohen Co-founder and Vice President of The Orchard and long time manager of The Raveonettes amongst others

Sheila Whiteley Visiting Professor, Author, Feminist Musicologist)

seMinarsspot festival offer a variety of seminars and speeches dealing with the challenges the music industry is facing and the opportunities arising from them. Here you find all the seminars and panel discussions offered in english. access is free with spot-wristband/ticket.

seMenar

*Smagstest gennemført den 6.-10. maj 2011af Norstat Danmark A/S (N=101)

GOD SMAGDET HANDLER OM





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